The rest of the rubber is the same firmness all the way to the front, moderately firm and also not a soft blown rubber up front yet I do think compared to the prior rubber it may contribute to the slightly softer ride I feel. This is not a super flexible light trainer as say the Kinvara 13 or Puma Liberate are. There is a moderate long flex with the front of the shoe with the toe off very stable. I’ve always had upper-fit issues with Brooks, from a too-high toe box in Ravenna 8 to a too-narrow forefoot in many Ravenna, Adrenaline, and Transcend models since.

From time to time carriers may deliver earlier or later, or on non working days however this is cannot be guaranteed nor should it be expected. Loved the cushioning most of all!” said another tester. “I have recurring Achilles tendonitis that will get irritated if I run too much in low-profile shoes. These had lots of bounce in the heel, which really helps prevent injury for me.” At the time of testing, I am also running in the Lululemon Blissfeel which has a more substantial width under the heel. Runners who prefer more of a base for longer runs will want to look to Blissfeel (woman-only shoe) or the ASICS GT-2000 10, in addition to Brooks’ more substantial support shoes Glycerin GTS and Beast/Ariel (men’s/women’s). Like the GTS 8—only with an added 2 mm. of padding—the GTS 9 has a midsole made of Brooks’ eco-friendly BioMoGo DNA foam, a firm and springy foam that also breaks down 50x faster than EVA to contribute less waste (don’t worry, we’re talking after years in a landfill, not during the life of the shoe).Mike P (10.0): The Endo Speed also features a more modern, bouncy, and responsive foam, in addition to the Speedroll technology. The Brooks has a more “regular” running shoe feel, while the Saucony seems to both bounce and propel you forward. The Endo Speed is a great shoe across the entire pace range from very fast to long runs. You feel much higher and unstable with the Endo than the Brooks - something to get used to. I reserve my Endos for speed work, and I’d prefer the Brooks for daily miles. Both are highly durable. I really like both shoes. The tongue is thin, flat and curved anatomically around the top of the foot. This has a slightly plasticy feel with a suede lining which gets quite warm out on a run. On the top of the tongue runs two padded inserts to raise the laces up and give comfort to the foot without adding unnecessary weight. My review pair is GTS (Go-To-Support) which means it has a lateral Guide Rail extending from the heel to mid foot of the same foam as the midsole and a co-molded slightly firmer than midsole foam on the medial side. Shannon: Ah, two of my favorites head-to-head. Look, if you love one, you’re probably going to love the other. Overall, the Kinvara has a faster, lighter, more flexible ride and feels like a more minimal shoe, but what the Launch gives up in those categories, it gains in cushioning material and–I would assume but this remains to be seen–life of the shoe. I wore a women’s 8 in both of these. JAYTON: The laces are crap. It really isn’t a big deal and proof that I don’t have many bad things to say about this shoe but it’s annoying because I’ll probably end up switching them out. The lightweight Green Rubber outsole is wonderful in ideal conditions but I found myself slipping in wet conditions, especially when it was both cold and wet. Additionally, the tongue of the shoe isn’t my favorite design because it can get folded under.

The upper is a very light one piece polyester. The heel cup is nicely padded. Not to the same extent as a Brooks Ghost or Brooks Adrenaline but more than adequate to be comfortable. Although the added padding around the heel of the Ghost and Adrenaline add to the feeling of comfort. Like you are slipping into a soft sofa. When out on the run I don’t think this level of padding improves the comfort. The slightly less padded heel cup of the Brooks Launch is more to my liking. The heel cup is plastic so that is offers some support but not so stiff that it will cause any discomfort. It is flexible enough to pull around your heel when you lace the shoes up to give a snug feel. If you’re looking for a softer, more plush ride consider the Brooks Ghost range, but for a faster more responsive run, the foam in the Launch 9 is spot on. It also felt good for gym workouts with bodyweight movements due to this slightly firmer foam. Renee: The Rebel v2 was my favorite road shoe of 2021. The midsole is magic. The Launch 8 is a more traditional, firmer ride, for daily miles. For speed and tempo work, the Rebel v2 is better. The Launch 8 has better protection underfoot, but I’ve used the Rebel v2 from short speed work to 20 milers on gravel. Sizing is comparable.

Brooks Launch 9 First Impressions

The heel counter is well padded, yet high and rigid but this gave no problems with rubbing or slipping even from the first wear, but something to consider if you prefer a softer heel counter. JORDYNN: The women’s Launch 9 weighs in at about 7.05 oz. The upper material is made up of a Creel Wrap mesh for a tighter fit. The midsole is made of the infamous BioMoGo DNA foam, and sits on a rubber outsole. The color combo is an orangish pink with a navy blue accent. The fit is true to size with a neutral width, and it was designed for good energy return, smooth transitions, and a springy step. The Good After my mixed first impressions of the Launch 9, I’ve come to the decision they’re a good solid running shoe.

The tongue is lightly padded which I found offered enough protection from the laces. The laces slot through a tab on the tongue to prevent it from slipping either side. Shannon (GTS) : Somehow Brooks managed to add 2 more mm of cushioning material but keep this shoe feeling like a lightweight trainer. While I do feel as though my previous Launch did feel like a little “less shoe,” it’s hard to recall if it felt like that in its early miles. This extra couple mm of material have not made this shoe feel bulkier or heavier ( and in fact it is lighter in weight), but we still derive the benefit of just a smidgeon of additional cushioning. The upper is a new Creel Wrap mesh while underfoot we get a more sustainable (silica based vs petroleum based) new Green Rubber outsole. GuideRails were introduced to Brooks stability in the 2013 Transcend and were notably improved in 2019 (prior GuideRails cut uncomfortably at times).

The Good

This stability feature proved effective on our test runs. “From a pronation control standpoint,” said an overpronating heel striker, “[the Launch GTS] did a great job underfoot and I felt that it provided ample stability.” The moderately cushioned BioMoGo DNA midsole also provided a soft and supportive platform during push off. The light and fast Launch GTS finds its contrast in Glycerin GTS, Brooks’ plush stability model, with Adrenaline GTS falling halfway in between as the best of both worlds: fast and supportive yet with softer LOFT cushion than Launch. GTS Guide Rails are not in the way of transition or over rigid/firm, a slight improvement over 8 for this neutral heel striker at slower paces Sam Worth noting, sizing was the same as the previous model and I felt my size 8 fit just as it did previously.

The toe box of the Brooks Launch is quite pointed. There is a bit less volume than there is in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS or Brooks Ghost toe box. The big toe line is straight. So, you do feel like you can effectively toe off. The snugger less volume upper does make the Launch feel more like a fast running shoe than it’s more cushioned everyday shoes. There are two additional lace loop holes at the top of the laces. So, if you do need to tighten up the heel cup then you can easily butterfly the laces. It is also possible to mis lace holes out (which you might need to do if you have a high arch or high volume foot) and still have a firm fit. LIGHTWEIGHT CUSHIONING: We have added more BioMoGo DNA cushioning to the midsole for an even faster ride without the extra weight. A dynamically responsive ride for days when you are working on your speed. The Brooks Ghost 14 is part of our vegan friendly range of running trainers meaning it’s now easier than ever to be kind to your legs and feet with this versatile pair of vegan running shoes.

I am used to having to go a half size up for the width, but Launch GTS 9 fits both slightly longer (making that extra length more noticeable) and slightly wider at the ball. The fit especially relaxes after a few runs in the shoe. Shannon (GTS): The ride is ultimately what made me a fan of this shoe. As I said before, this is one quiet, smoothly riding shoe. Brooks managed to let us have our cake and eat it too with their addition of more cushioning yet keeping things lightweight. This is going to be a versatile, go-to-for-anything type of shoe just as I used my previous Launch. If you’re a fan of the previous Launch GTS, never fear as the update is one that you will enjoy equally, if not more, than its predecessor. So when I got the Launch 9 and saw– oh yay, BioMoGo DNA– I was obviously thrilled and by thrilled I mean not thrilled. But hey, at least there’s 2mm more of it.